Architecture and Interiors

Menu

Tag Archives: metal

As you may know I live in England and we have a wonderful thing called the National Trust. They basically look after our beautiful old buildings, preserving them for future generations, our coastline too. What it means is, nosey people like me can immerse themselves in amazing architecture, and imagine, what if… Near where I live in Cornwall we have Lanhydrock House, a gorgeous Victorian home that has a perfectly preserved upstairs-downstairs lifestyle.

You can get overwhelmed by the amount of embellishment and grandeur, but I like looking at the details. We actually have a company locally, Bromleighs, who specialise in period fixtures and fittings. The door handles, light switches, letterboxes etc. that fit a specific period. They have even supplied the National Trust. I mean imagine a Downton Abbey parlour with white glaringly plastic light switches!! The shock.

In praise of period details, here a few elements that shouldn’t be missed, the unsung heroes that make a space authentic.

The real-life Downton Abbey, Highclere Castle

When you are restoring a period house some people strip everything away but the bones of the place, and then fill the interior in contrast with the ultra modern. Sometimes though I think the soul can be lost. I am zoning in today on the overlooked details that can preserve the integrity of a building.

Here we have a dove grey door with a silvered handle, complementing it perfectly.

As you may well know, I am a fan of mix and match. There is quite a lot going on in this bathroom, but I think it works. What I really like is the mirror and light fittings in this dark, brassy metal.

I love these old radiators, especially in sunshine yellow!

Beautifully finished, this kind of handle would look at home on a ruggedly knotted and aged door.

The handles here, in my humble opinion, make this kitchen. Lovely rich dark blue units, marble counter tops and a touch of brass.

I love this light, so solid, so certain. Bolted onto the wall like it really belongs there!

Back to blue again, it just works so well! And what a lovely leathery colour.

Of course it is important to look up too. Georgian houses especially had beautiful freezes of intricate plaster. This is actually taken from another National Trust property, Llanerchaeron in Ceredigion.

Another great mix. I included this bathroom because of the peg hooks, a lovely detail, and because of the sage green and zesty orange combo!

My final thought goes to lighting. You can’t go wrong with a chandelier, no really. Even this rustic space is made complete with an antique-style pendant.

I love the impact simple lines can have. Bringing a form down to its bare basic is something I appreciate in art, and in an interior I think it can work too. Wire in lighting design is everywhere at the moment, be that spindly strands of LEDs or striking strong black metal or geometric bronze. These are a few that have caught my eye.

Cubist in shape, this shade hovers over its three hanging light bulbs. Designed by Anastasia Vishnevskaya, I love the boldness.

Perfect for a teenagers bedroom, this cloud has a golden lining .

You cannot underestimate the power of a simple black line! This stark and vast reception has elegant black wire pendant lights, rigid and beautiful.

In a similar vein, these pendant lights cut striking shapes in geometric forms. The black casing dangling with glowing bulbs below.

How is it that inanimate objects can project such personality? These wire table lamps to me look huddle, hunched, perhaps the lighting version of the Liverpudlian vultures in Disney’s cartoon Jungle Book!

This pair have borrow from tradition for their shape. Flared at the edge like a lady’s dress or a flower. Uniform wire spokes cage the light bulbs perfectly.

This string of lights uses presents the wire in the shape of a light bulb, simple but effective.

The close together wire here almost becomes a woven mesh. I am mesmerised by the silhouettes created by the bulbous shapes.

Could it get anymore simple – the clear black lines perfectly suspend the cone shaped shades.

This trio are diamond-like, hanging in strong geometric frames. They look heavy, substantial, maybe even bat-like and gothic.

Perfectly minimal, skewed pyramids look hand drawn mid air!

Conjuring the feel of bygone times, these skeletal lamps have feminine flair.

For my final wirey inspiration, a substantial piece of lighting design which hangs like a full fisherman’s catch. The netting of lights glows with warmth in an industrial space.

2014 was all about copper. As you may have read in a previous post I am a fan of the metal touch in the home. Its just so versatile, from cold industrial and masculine to warm and tactile, luxurious and sensual. Copper, and indeed it seems all metals, are here to stay.

I think my love affair with copper started back when I was a little girl, I remember learning the name for when copper turned green, verdigris, and thinking it quite marvellous. Also there was a weird and wonderful lady in our village who had four Huskies and a copper wall in her house. Her home was dark but inviting and although dimly lit this copper wall was quite captivating in the flickering fire light. Pretty much since then copper was the metal for me.

Here are a few interiors that make copper work. From the bizarre to the sublime! Enjoy.

1) Start small
Introduce copper accents into your home for warmth and texture.

2) Copper piping light
Isn’t this brilliant? This would look very cool in a dining room.

3) Oo the detail!
Love the colours of unpolished and polished copper on this staircase.